The Forest Hill Garden Group invite you to come and visit 6 breathtaking private gardens located on the TLERA estate as part of the National Garden Scheme.

Featuring six very different gardens on the highest hill in SE London with spectacular views over London and the Downs. The gardens are within a short walk of each other, but a yellow ballooned ‘taxi’ service is on hand (donations) for those with mobility problems. Wander in a bee friendly organic flower and fruit haven with vintage summerhouse, gravelled terraces and billowing grasses. See an evolving plants-woman’s garden, now with prairie planting in the sunny dry garden contrasting with a new watery fern garden. Also new for 2017: a small meadow, an ever changing story trail for children, and new chicken breeds in an eclectic country style garden. Delight in an artist’s studio in an c18th courtyard filled with sculptures and plants and feed the resident robins!

Enjoy an embroidery of a garden with vibrant colours and breathtaking views. Unwind with delicious cakes and listen to music from a talented duo amidst the drifting pastel hues of the tea lady’s garden inspired by Beth Chatto – and Mary Berry!
Great views everywhere. Plants for sale at 25 Westwood Park, 27 Horniman Drive and 7 Canonbie Rd.

We’re planning range of events for 2017 so put these dates in your diary now to make sure you don’t miss out. Our family friendly events are a great way to enjoy meeting friends new and old whilst discovering the unique charms of the Tewksbury Lodge estate. Look out for more details coming soon on our website and in your newsletters.

Annual General Meeting – Tuesday 21st February 2017
All residents are invited to our AGM to be held at Horniman Primary School on Tuesday 21st February at 6.30pm.

The AGM will be followed by environment themed presentations covering: an update on our street trees campaign; an overview of wildlife on our Estate by the London Wildlife Trust; and the new Butterfly House in Horniman Gardens.

On December 4th 2016 around 100 TLERA members, friends and children gathered in the Triangle (the enclosed garden between Horniman Drive and Liphook Crescent) to sing traditional carols and seasonal songs, ‘heedless of the wind and weather’ – it was cold and very breezy! It was the first time that the Association had held such an event, which as well as being a get together for TLERA members, was a fundraiser for the charity Crisis at Christmas.

The Triangle was beautifully decorated with candle bags and fairy lights. There were mince pies and stollen, and the mulled wine mostly flowed freely. The carols were led by a small group of singers from the Estate, with the song sheets illuminated by hand held candles in jars. All in all it was a lovely event which members really enjoyed, and £220 was raised for the charity.

It is hoped that this will become a regular event. If any other singers or musicians would like to join in the planning for next year, please do get in touch. Thanks to everyone involved for helping to make this such a success.

This new event for the Association last October (2016) was designed to be a celebration of the season of “mist and mellow fruitfulness”. As the weather was kind, the children’s activities could go ahead in the garden. The children used autumn leaves, berries and seeds to create stunning pictures and wonderful decorations, as well as making brightly coloured lavender bags using the dried flowers from the garden. Budding gardeners were also able to plant daffodil bulbs to take home, and autumn stories were read in the Story Hut at the end of garden.

Meanwhile, the adults could try a range of wonderful locally grown apples, and try the mulled cider which proved a big hit. Three hearty, homemade soups were also on offer. Harvest crops were paired with unusual flavourings: carrot and cardamom; leek, potato and lavender; and spicy pumpkin and coconut. Then it was time for cake and once again our local bakers did not disappoint, with their own twists on traditional fruit-based recipes: apple and almond; chocolate and beetroot; plum; and pumpkin pie – all worthy of the Great British Bake Off.

One of the highlights should have been an apple pressing from different locally grown apples. However, the apple harvest this had been disappointing, so making litres of luscious juice was going to be tricky – even before it was realised that the promised, professional apple press could not be obtained in time! Not to be deterred by such setbacks, Rowena, using a commendable degree of improvisation, put together our very own Heath Robinson press, consisting of two chopping boards and a series of clamps. Enough juice was produced for all present to drink a thimble-full and everyone declared the resulting nectar to be delicious and, interestingly, much sweeter than the original apples.

A big thank you to all those who made the event possible and thanks too to everyone who came along at such short notice. We are reliably informed that there will be a bumper harvest next year, so do let us have your feedback and ideas to make Autumn Harvest 2017 an even bigger celebration of the fruits of Forest Hill.

Join us on December 4th for Carols by Candlelight with mulled wine and mince pies in the Triangle (between Horniman Drive and Rocombe Crescent). Six talented members who sing in choirs have volunteered to help out by leading the singing, and carol sheets will be available so we can all join in! We may even do a walkabout on nearby roads for those not able to get to the Triangle.

This will take place on Sunday 4 December at 5pm in the Triangle between Horniman Drive and Rocombe Crescent. So do come along and, if you can, bring a lantern or candle in a jar to light our way. We should love to have some musicians and more singers, but don’t worry if singing is not your forte! If you enjoy singing, can play an instrument to accompany the carols and other seasonal songs, and would like to join the small group before the evening, do let Bea Jackson know by calling her on 020 8699 7143.

TLERA is introducing this new event on Saturday 8 October to celebrate the season of ‘mist and mellow fruitfulness’. Children can have fun planting bulbs to take away and grow at home, creating leaf and seed pictures, making lavender bags, and playing some pumpkin-themed games. Meanwhile, adults can try their hand at fruit pressing (bring your own apples or pears if you have any), and can share ideas and recipes for cooking or preserving fruit and vegetables.

To show what can be done with seasonal crops, hot homemade soups such as butternut squash and sweet potato, leek and potato etc. will be available, as well as crusty bread, cheese and apples. Pumpkin pie and apple and almond cake will also be on the menu.

The event will take place between 1 and 4 pm at Hilltop, 28 Horniman Drive. The conservatory and covered veranda will provide protection if it rains, so the event is weatherproof! We hope that you will enjoy this new event and will give us your ideas on how it might be developed in future years.

PS: If you need a helping hand to pick your fruit or collect windfalls, one or more garden group members can help out. Contact Frankie Locke on 020 8699 2548.